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Serious hikers and backpackers know that when it comes to hitting the trails and heading into the backcountry, weight is a major concern. On short 1/2 mile treks, bringing along a 7 pound tripod poses no problem for most people, but as the miles add up, a heavy pack becomes more of an issue, especially when you’re also carrying food, water, camping equipment, and of course — camera gear.
An ultralight tripod is an essential piece of equipment for photographers headed on long hikes into the great outdoors. While some photographers might be tempted to leave the tripod at home, keep in mind that a tripod helps to capture photos in lower light conditions, with heavier lenses, and when you want to shoot long exposure landscape photos. With numerous tripods on the market, photographers should consider several key specifications: the weight of the tripod, the maximum height of the tripod, the folded length of the tripod, and the support capacity of the tripod.
All of the tripods featured in this buying guide weigh less than four pounds, with many weighing in at less than 3 pounds — light enough for even long distance hikers to add to their backpack. Many of the tripods shown here are made of carbon fiber, a lightweight material that offers good rigidity, strength, and stability.
The support capacity indicates how much weight these tripods can support — a capacity of under 10 pounds should be plenty for most smaller DSLR and mirrorless cameras, but photographers who plan to hike and backpack with larger full frame cameras and heavier telephoto lenses may want to invest in a tripod with a higher load capacity.
